The five member committee appointed to investigate sexual harassment at Makerere Universityofficially handed over its report to the Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe on Monday, 25th June 2018. Led by the Chairperson, Prof. Sylvia Tamale, the committee appointed on 2nd March 2018 also consisted of the School of Women and Gender Studies’ Assoc. Prof. Consolata Kabonesa, Ag. Principal School of Law-Assoc. Prof. Christopher Mbazira, the College of Education and External Studies’ Assoc. Prof. Betty Ezati, and the College of Humanities and Social Sciences’ Assoc. Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi.
Speaking at the handover, Prof. Tamale thanked the University Management for setting up the committee to investigate sexual harassment and in the same breath requested management to adhere to the recommendations of the report. She also thanked members of the media for investigating and reporting cases of harassment, noting that this would go a long way in arresting the vice.
“Sexual harassment is inhumane. It is a violation of human rights and an assault to a person’s dignity” added Prof. Sylvia Tamale. She however noted that whereas Makerere had set out to investigate the vice, it is not only a problem at the University but also occurs elsewhere in the private sector and other work environments.
In his remarks, Prof. Nawangwe thanked the committee for a job well done in carrying out the investigations and preparing the report in a timely manner. He took note of the recommendations made by the committee in the five classifications of; Policy review, Investigation and disposal of cases, Campus environment, Raising awareness and training, and Academic/Administrative policy changes, and reiterated Management’s commitment to adhering to the set deadlines.
“The message is clear, we are committed to stamping out this vice by ensuring that our policies reiterate our zero tolerance towards sexual harassment and make it risky for anyone to engage in it” concluded the Vice Chancellor.